[II] Bishops who have Presided over the
Malankara Church
since Koonen Kurisu Oath until the middle of the 19th century

In the absence of any reliable record evidencing
the elevation of a native of Malabar to episcopacy prior to the Portuguese
period, Mar Thoma I, consecrated by the Antiochean delegate Mor Gregorios
Abdul'Jaleel in 1665, has to be regarded as the first bishop from the Syrian
Christian community of Malabar.

1. Mor Thoma V is said to
have been consecrated by laying on his head, the hands
of the unconscious predecessor (Mor Thoma IV) who was lying at the point of death and hence
difference of opinion on his powers to administer the Malankara Church existed
among the faithful. BACK

2. Mor Thoma VI was
re-consecrated with the title 'Mor Dionysius I' in 1770 by the Patriarchal delegates as there existed
confusion among the faithful over the validity of his consecration by his
predecessor 'Mor Thoma V' who in turn was
not ordained properly. BACK

3. Mor Thoma VIII too is said to
have been consecrated by laying on his head the hands
of the unconscious Methran (Mor Thoma VII)who was lying at the point of death and hence one
party in the Church contended that both his as well as his successor's (Mor Thoma IX) consecrations cannot be considered as valid. BACK

4. Mar Philexinos falls 4th in line
of the separated Thoziyoor Church, of which Kattumangatt Mor Kurillos was their
first bishop. Mor Kurillos who is popularly known as Kattumangatt Valiya
Bava, was ordained by one of the Patriarchal delegates (Mor Gregorios) residing
in Malankara at that time. But there were also serious allegations
regarding the said consecration as it was supposed to be done by Mor Gregorios
under pressure. While his stay at Mulanthuruthy, Mor Gregorios had
to entirely depend on Mor Kurillos as he become blind following a serious
illness and hence the genuineness of the said consecration of Kattumangatt Mor Kurillos remains
under cloud.

(However
for the Thoziyoor Church (Malabar Independent Syrian Church) and as well as for the
Marthoma Syrian Church, the
consecration remains valid and they consider that the apostolic line from
the Holy See of Antioch continued through Mor Kurillos since he was said to be ordained by the
Patriarchal delegate).

Because of the doubt on the validity of consecration of Mor Kurillos, the
Malankara Syrian Church was reluctant to recognize the consecrations done by his
(Kurillos) successors in the Thoziyoor Church. But due to certain interference
from the ruling British Government in early 19th century, the Malankara Church
was in urgency of bishops for its very existence. Because of the restrictions
imposed by the British, the Patriarch could not help his Syrian flocks in
India at that stage. So the Malankara Church was forced to make requests to Mor
Philexinos for consecrating those chosen by the Malankara Syrian community. Mor
Philexinos who is alleged to had some vested interests, readily accepted the
offer. Thus the three successive Metropolitans of Malankara
Syrian Church; Mor Dionysius II, Mor Dionysius III and Mor Dionysius IV had to
receive consecration from Mor Philexinos of Thoziyoor Church. But Mor
Dionysius II (Pulikottil Sr.) never styled himself as a Bishop as he himself was
doubtful over the canonical validity of his consecration by a Thoziyoor bishop.
[Mor Dionysius II mentioned here is the first in line of the two bishops from Pulikottil family of
Kunnamkulam. He is the founder of the Syrian Seminary (now known as Old
Seminary) at Kottayam and is venerated as a saintly father.]

As the validity of the above said
consecrations remained under cloud, the Malankara Church requested the successive
Patriarchs of Antioch for the proper recognition of these bishops. It was thus a
letter of the Patriarch was issued, confirming the status of Mor Dionysius IV
as a prelate of the Malankara Syrian Church and the copy was handed over to the
British Government as well. BACK

Consecrated Mor Ivanios as Metropolitan in
Marthoman Church, Kothamangalam. Venerated as a saintly father. Name is included in the
5th Thubden since 1987.

29-Sep-1685

Kothamanagalam Marthoman Cheriya Pally

5.

Mor Ivanios Hidayathullah

1685

Consecrated Marthoma III & Marthoma IV

13-Aug-1693/4

Mulanthuruthy Mar Thoman Church

6.

Mor Ivanios II

1748

Returned in 1751

7.

Mor Baselios Shakralla, Maphryono

1751

22-Oct-1763/4

Kandanad Martha Mariam Church

8.

Mor Gregorios Yuhanon

1751

He together with Mor Ivanios, consecrated
Mor Dionysius I

08-July-1773

Mulanthuruthy Mar Thoman Church

9.

Mor Ivanios Yuhanon

1751

He together with Mor Gregorios, consecrated
Mor Dionysius I

18-Apr-1794

Chengannur Syrian Church

10.

Mor Dioscorus

1806

Deported by British in 1808

11.

Mor Athanasius Abdul Messiah

1825

Deported by British

12.

Mor Kurillos Yuyakkim

1846

02-Sep-1874

Mulanthuruthy Mar Thoman Church

13.

Mor Athanasius Stephanos

1849

Returned to Antioch

14.

Mor Gregorios Abded 'Aloho

Sadad, Turkey

1875

Visited Malankara in 1875 along with
Patriarch Mor Ignatius Pathros IV. Attended the historic Church
synod at Mulanthuruthy and also assisted the visiting Patriarch during the
Metropolitan consecrations held in Malabar.

(In 1906 he was enthroned as the patriarch
of the Holy See of Antioch and 5 years later H.H. visited Malabar again.)

Returned in 1876

(Visited India again in 1911 after becoming
the Patriarch of Antioch)

15.

Mor Athanasius Shemavun

Damascus, Syria

1881

11-Jun-1889

Kottayam Puthen Pally

16.

St. Osthatheos Sleeba

Kferzo, Turkey

1881

First arrived in Malankara when he was a
deacon, together with Mor Athanasius Shemavun in 1881 and returned in 1906. After
consecration as Metropolitan in 1908, he returned to India the same year as
Apostolic Delegate. Venerated as a Saintly father.

19-Mar-1930

Kunnamkulam Arthat Simhasana Church

17.

Mor Yulios Elias

1923

Apostolic delegate to Malankara after St.
Osthatheos Sleeba

19-Feb-1962

Majinikkara Mor Ignatius Dayro

18.

Abded Ahodod Ramban

(later became the Patriarch of Antioch & all the East by name Mor
Ignatius Yakoob III)

Iraq

1933

As Malphono (teacher) of Majinikkara Dayro,
he stayed here
for 13 years.

He was ordained Metropolitan in 1950. In 1957
he was enthroned as the 121st Patriarch of Antioch & all the East.
In 1964 H.H visited India once again and consecrated Mor Awgen as Catholicos
by name Mor Baselios
Awgen I in Kottayam. In 1975, H.H. consecrated Mor Philoxenos as Catholicos
by name Mor Baselios Paulose II
at the Damascus Cathderal.

26-June-1980

Returned in 1946

(Visited India again in 1964 for 2 weeks
after becoming the Patriarch)

Presided over the first
meeting of the Malankara Jacobite Syrian Christian Association at
Mulanthuruthy and elevated Pulikottil Mor Dionysius as the first Malankara
Metropolitan of the Church in Malabar.

Ordained six Metropolitans for the
Malankara Church during the Apostolic visit

First visited Malankara in 1875 along with
Patriarch Pathros IV and attended the historic Mulanthuruthy Synod. At
that time he was the Metropolitan of Jerusalem.

In 1911, he as the Patriarch of the Holy See,
visited Malankara and ordained two Metropolitans and also later presided
the Malankara Association which elected Mor Koorilose Paulose
Kochuparambil as the 3rd Malankara Metropolitan.

Consecrated Holy Muroon at the
Mulanthuruthy Mar Thoman Church

1915

Monastery of St. Mark, Jerusalem

3.

St. Ignatius Elias III

Turkey

1931-'32

Died here when on a peace mission to
Malankara. Venerated as a saintly father. Name is included in the
5th THUBDEN in Malankarasince 1987.

13-Feb-1932

Majinikkara Mor Ignatius Dayro

4.

Mor Ignatius Yakoob III

Bartalla, Iraq

1964

As Malphono (teacher) of Majinikkara Dayro,
he stayed in Malabar
for 13 years. He was at that time a Ramban (Monk-Priest).

In 1964 H.H. visited India once again to
consecrate Mor Awgen as the first canonical Catholicos of Malankara Church
by name Mor Baselios
Awgen I in Kottayam.

In 1975, H.H. consecrated Mor Philoxenos as
the 2nd Catholicos of Malankara by name Mor Baselios Paulose II
at the Damascus Cathedral.

26-June-1980

St. George Patriarchal Cathedral,
Damascus-Syria

5.

Mor Ignatius Zakka I Iwas

Baghdad, Iraq

1982,

2000,

2004

Ordained Metropolitan Abraham Mor Severios
for the Angamali diocese during his first Apostolic visit of 1982

Consecrated Holy Muroon at the Manarcaud
Marth Mariam Church in 1982 and at the Kothamangalam Mar Thoma Church in
2004

In 2002, H.H. consecrated for Malankara the
third Catholicos by name Mor Baselios Thomas I at Patriarchal Cathedral in Damascus.